gossip

[ gos-uhp ]
/ ˈgɒs əp /

noun

verb (used without object), gos·siped or gos·sipped, gos·sip·ing or gos·sip·ping.

to talk idly, especially about the affairs of others; go about tattling.

verb (used with object), gos·siped or gos·sipped, gos·sip·ing or gos·sip·ping.

Chiefly British Dialect. to stand godparent to.
Archaic. to repeat like a gossip.

Origin of gossip

before 1050; Middle English gossib, godsib(be), Old English godsibb, orig. godparent, equivalent to god God + sibb related; see sib

SYNONYMS FOR gossip

1 small talk, hearsay, palaver, chitchat. Gossip, scandal apply to idle talk and newsmongering about the affairs of others. Gossip is light chat or talk: to trade gossip about the neighbors. Scandal is rumor or general talk that is damaging to reputation; it is usually more or less malicious: The town never lived down the election scandal.
3 chatterer, talker, gabbler, rumormonger.
6 chatter, prattle, prate, palaver.

OTHER WORDS FROM gossip

gos·sip·ing·ly, adverb in·ter·gos·sip, verb, in·ter·gos·siped or in·ter·gos·sipped, in·ter·gos·sip·ing. un·gos·sip·ing, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for gossiper

British Dictionary definitions for gossiper

gossip 1
/ (ˈɡɒsɪp) /

noun

casual and idle chat to have a gossip with a friend
a conversation involving malicious chatter or rumours about other people a gossip about the neighbours
Also called: gossipmonger a person who habitually talks about others, esp maliciously
light easy communication to write a letter full of gossip
archaic a close woman friend

verb -sips, -siping or -siped

(intr often foll by about) to talk casually or maliciously (about other people)

Derived forms of gossip

gossiper, noun gossiping, noun, adjective gossipingly, adverb gossipy, adjective

Word Origin for gossip

Old English godsibb godparent, from god + sib; the term came to be applied to familiar friends, esp a woman's female friends at the birth of a child, hence a person, esp a woman, fond of light talk